Electric signal apparatus for elevators



R. A.-NEWE.

ELECTRIC SIGNAL APPARATUS FOR ELEVATORS.

APPLICATION FiLED JAN-1251920.

Patentd June 6,1922.

2 SHEETS-SHEET l.

, INVENTOR 42M a, W

ATTORNEYS R. A. NEWE. ELECTRIC SIGNAL APPARATUS FOR ELEVATORS. APPLICATION FILED JAN. 12, 1920. 1,418,322. v tente June 6, 1922.

2 SHEETSSHEET 2.

lNVEN'T'OR ATTORNEYS UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE;

ROBERT A. NEWE, OF HOUSTON, TEXAS.

ELECTRIQS IGNAL APPARATUS FOR ELEVATORS.

Application filed January 12, 1920. Serial No. 350,732.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, ROBERT A. Nnwn, citizen of the United States, residing at Houston in the county of Harris and State of Texas, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in an Electric Signal Apparatus for Elevators, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in an electric signal apparatus for elevators.

One object of the invention is to provide an apparatus of the character described, whereby an elevator may be signaled by a passenger on any floor of the building wherein the elevator is located, so that the elevator operator will be notified in ad Vance on which floor the passenger is located and whereby the passenger will be notified of the approach of the elevator to said floor.

Another object of the invention is to provide an apparatus of the character described, which is simple inconstruction and whose parts are readily accessible so that the apparatus may be easily kept in order and readily repaired.

Another object of the invention is to provide an apparatus of the character described which will operate automatically to turn on the signal lights at the required time when the signal button has been pressed and to automatically cut off said lights when the elevator car has passed floor from which the signal has been given.

With the above and other objects in view, the invention has particular relation to certain novel features of construction, operation and arrangement of parts, an example of which is given in this specification and illustrated in the accompanying drawings wherein Figure 1 shows a front elevation of the commutator employed showing a diagrammatic view of the wiring and the signal lights. 1

Figure 2, shows a side view of the operative mechanism as connected to the elevator sheave-shaft and Figure 3, shows a front elevation of the mechanism illustrated in Figure 2.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings wherein like numerals of reference designate similar parts in each of the figures, the numeral 1 designates a commutator support which is preferably composed of a vertically disposed slate slab and which supports a commutator. Spaced behind this slab there 1s located a similar vertically disposed slate slab 2 provided to support duetion gearing 5, with a short transverse I shaft 6 which has a sprocket wheel 7 fixed thereon. This sprocket wheel is aligned with the corresponding sprocket wheel 8 which is fixed on the sheave-shaft 9 and operating over said sprocket wheels and transmitting rotation from the former to the latter there is a sprocket chain 10. Through the mechanism described the shaft 4 is rotated from the shaft 9 in one direction as the elevator 11 ascends and in the opposite di rection as its descends. The elevator 11 is suspended by means of the cable 12 which operates over the sheave 13 fixed on said shaft 9.

Fixed upon the end of the shaft 4 in front of and adjacent the commutator 2, there is an arm 14. Thefixed end of said arm is split and clamped on its shaft by means of the clamp bolt 15, thus providing means for the easy removal of said arm. As the shaft 4 rotates back and forth, the arm 14 sweeps back and forth around the commutator 2.

Loosely mounted upon shaft 4 in front of and adjacent the switch commutator 3 there is a switch arm 16. The bearing of this arm is extended forming a tubular sleeve 17, whose outer end is enclosed by a removable cap 18 and within this sleeve there is a coil push spring 19, which is interposed between said cap and the shaft 4 and which presses against the latter. The range of movement of the arm 16 is limited by means of the projecting pins 20, 20 between which it operates. Before the shaft 4 reaches the limit of its rotation in one direction, the free end of said arm 16 strikes against one of the pins 20 and stops the movement of said arm, but the arm being loosely mountedupon said shaft, the shaft will continue to rotate. Upon reverse rotation the pressure of the spring 19 against the shaft 4 causes the arm 16 to reverse in its movement and it continues to move in the reverse direction until it strikes the other pin 20, whereby it will be stopped irrespective of the continued rotation of the shaft 4 in said direction. The numeral 21 refers to the electrical supply Wire which may be connected to and disconnected from the wiring of the apparatus by the switch 22. The numerals 23 and 2a designate the respective up and down hall lights located in front of the elevator shaft on the respective floors of the building and the numeral 25 designates the pilot light located in the elevator car. The numerals 26 and 27 respectively designate the up and down push buttons located on the various floors of the building. The respective push buttons are provided for the purpose oi completing a circuit between the lead wire 28, which is connected to one binding post of the switch 22, and the corresponding lead wires 29 and 30 which are connected to the respective magnets 31 and 32. These magnets are mounted in corresponding magnet frames and 34 and leading from the magnets are the return Wires 85 and 36 which are connected to the other binding post of the switch 22. \Vhen a push button is pressed the corresponding magnet will be energized and the corresponding pivoted hook 237 or 38 as the case may be, will be withdrawn, releasing the free end of the corresponding pivoted latch 39 or ll) which is normally engaged by said hook. lVhen said latch drops, the contact arm di or 4:2 as the case may be, will fall into contact with the corresponding contact point $3 or is, thus completing the circuit through the wires 45 and H5 or through the wires L7 and 48, as the case may be. The said wires 46 and 48 are connected to the respective arcuate plates 59 and. 50, which are carried on the face of the commutator 2 and are preferably formed of brass strips. It is to be observed that a number oi these strips 59 and 50 are employed one for each floor and that they are arcuately arranged and spaced apart, the strips be ing connected into a complete circuit during the upward movement of the car and the strips 50 being so connected during the downward movement oil the car as will be hereinafter explained. The arm 14: moves in unison with. the movement of the car and just before the car reaches the required floor moving upwardly, the contact brush 5'1. carried thereby will reach the strip 49 corresponding to the floor at which the button has been pressed, completing a circuit between the continuous arcuate strip 52, through the brushes and 54c and 51 and said strip 49. Said brushes are all connected together and the strip 52 is connected. through suitable wiring to the arcuate metallic strip carried by the face of the commutator 3. The arm 16 carries a brush 56 in cont-act with said strip and leading from it there is a wire 57 which leads to the pilot light 25, the circuit from said pilot light being completed through the wiring 58 to the proper binding post of the switch 22 and a signal is thus given to the operator of the car. At the same time a circuit is completed through the stri p and the brushes 53 and o lto the corresponding arcuate strip 4-9 of the commutator 2, and thence through the wiring (30 through the corresponding up hall light and the wiring G1. to the arcuate strip 62 of the commutator This strip is connected to the proper binding post of the switch 22 through the brush 62-5, of the arm 16, and the wiring 6t and 58 thus completing a circuit and giving a signal to the intended passenger of the approach of the car. It the car has passed the brush ot the arm 14: contacts with the plug 66 which is connected to the set baclr magnet 67. The brush G5 is connected to the brush 68 which is in constant contact with the arcuate strip 69. This strip is connected to the arcuate strip 70 of the commutator 3 through the wiring 71 and the strip 70 is connected to the required blTKl. ing post of the switch 22 through the brush 72, carried on the arm 16 and the wiring 73. li hen the brush contacts with the plug 556 a circuitis completed and the magnet 67 will be energized, the circuit through said magnet being completed through the wiring T-l; to the corresponding binding post to the switch 22. The magnet will then lift the latch 40 again into engagement with the hook 558, breaking the connection between the arm as and the contact point ti, thus breal-:- ing the circuit through the pilot lights 25 and the corresponding hall light 23.

It is to be observed that there are two sets of magnets for each floor, one set for making and breaking the circuit through the signal light, while the elevator is ascending and the other set performing a like vfunction, when the elevator is descending. The switch arm commutator has two sets of contact plates three oi said plates constituting a set. The metallic strips (32, 5:3 and form one set, and the corresponding strips '75, 7G and. 7'7 'fOYlIl the other set, the strips ol: one set being arcuately arranged relative to, and spaced from the corre sponding strips of the other set. During the upward movement of the car the l'HfllSllBS ol the switch arm '16 are in contact with the L arcuatc strips (52, 553 and '70 and when an up button 26 is pressed at a floor above the car, the TQSpGCl lYQ circuits above described will be completed and the corresponding signals given. While the car is moving npwardly only up signals can be given tor the reason that the switch arm 16 is out oil. con tact with the strips 75, 7G, and T7 and a circuit cannot be completed 'lironi the strips 78, 79 and 80 ot' the commutator 2 through.

them until the brushes 63, 5G and 72 of the arm 16 have come into contact with said strips which will not occur until the elevator car has reached the limit of its upward movement, and has started to descend. It a down push button 27 is then or has previously been pressed, the proper circuits will be completed as the car descends and the required signals will then be given in the same manner as during the upward movement of the car as above explained. The strip 7 5 is electrically connected with the strips 7 8 the strip 76 is connected with the strip 79 and the strip 77 is similarly connected with the strip 80. An arcuate row of setback plugs 81 are also provided on the commutator 2 which connected to the set back magnets 82 through the wiring 83 and from these magnets the wiring 84 leads to a binding post of the switch 22.

The arm 14 also carries the contact brushes 85, 86 and 87 all connected together and through which a circuit may be completed between the strip 79 and the strips 50 and 78 and then through the down signal lights.

This arm also carries the contact brushes 88 and 89 connected together, the former of which is in constant contact with the strip 80 and the latter of which is arranged to contact with the set back plugs 81 to complete a circuit through the set back magnets 82 with the result that the latches 39 are lifted into engagement with the corresponding hooks 37 to break the connection be tween the contact arms 41 and the contact points 43 thus breaking the circuit through.

the down signal lights and pilot light after the car has passed the floor at which the down signal button was pressed.

The commutator 2 thus has the two continuous arcuate strips 52 and 69 which during the up movement of the car are constantly connected with the supply wire 21 as above described, and between them are the segmental arcuate strips 49 and 59 and the arcuate row of set back plugs 66 which respectively complete the circuits from said strip 52 through the pilot and hall lights and from said strip 69 through the corresponding magnets during the up movement of the elevator car. This commutator also includes the continuous strips 7 9 and 80 and the intermediate arcuate rows of segmental strips 50 and 7 8 and the arcuate row of set back plugs 81 forming similar connections during the downward movement of the car.

Referring to Figure 1, when the push button 26 is pressed, a circuit will be completed from the positive side of the switch 22, through the lead wires 28 and 29 to the magnet 31 and then through the return wire 36 to the negative side of the switch.

The magnet 81 will thus be energized and will withdraw the hook 38 from the latch 40, permitting said latch to drop and the free end of the contact arm will contact with the opposing point 44, thus completing the circuit through the hall-light on. the corresponding floor as tollows:-irom the lows :--from the positive side of the switch 22 through the wiring 58 and 57, then through a brush of the switch arm 16 to the corresponding arcuate plate 55, thence through a wiring connecting said plate with the arcuate strip 52, then through the brushes 53 and 54 to the strip 59, then through the wiring 46, the latch 40, the contact arm 42, the wiring 45 and 36, back to the negative side of said switch 22. The circuits traced above may be termed an operating circuit. The effacing circuit is traced as follows :-trom the positive side of the switch 22, through the wiring 74, the

ma net 67 and from this ma net throu 'h b 7 23 D the wiring connecting it with the set-back plug 66, thence through the brushes 65 and 68, to the arcuate strip 69, then through the wiring 71, the plate 70, the brush 7 2 and the wiring 73 to the negative side of said switch.

What I claim is 1. A device of the character described including a commutator provided with two pairs of continuous contacts, two rows of sectional contacts for each pair, and a row of contact plugs for each pair; means for alternately completing and breaking an electrical circuit through the respective pairs of continuous contacts; a movable brush support arranged to move adjacent the commutator; two sets of brushes carried by said support, each formed of three units connected together one unit of each brush being in constant contact with one of the continuous contacts of the corresponding pair and the other two units being arranged to contact successively with the corresponding rows of sectional contacts; two pairs of brushes carried by said support, each formed of two units connected together, one unit of each brush being in constant contact with the other continuous contact of each pair, and the other unit of each of said last mentioned brushes contacting successively with the contact plugs of the corresponding row of said contact plugs.

2. A device of the character described including a commutator provided with a pair of continuous contacts, two rows of sectional contacts for each continuous contact and a row of contact plugs for each continuous contact; means tor alternately completing and breaking an electrical circuit through the respective continuous contacts electrical wiring connecting said means and said plugs in a circuit; a nioinble brush support arranged to move adjacent the commutator; two sets of brushes carried by said support, each formed of units connected together and arranged to contact successively with the corresponding rows of sectional contacts; two pairs of brushes carried by said support, each formed of two units connected together, one unit oi? each brush being in constant contact with the continuous contact of each pair and the other unit of each of said last mentioned brushes contacting successively with the contact plugs of the corresponding row of said contact plugs; stationary electric signal lights, electrical wiring connecting said lights in a circuit with the rows of sectional contacts of each pair of rows and electrically operated means for etfacing said signals connected in circuit with said contact plugs.

33. A device of the character described including an elevator car, a commutator provided with two pairs of continuous contacts two rows of sectional contacts for each pair and a row of contact plugs for each pair; means for alternately completing and breaking an electrical circuit through the respective pairs of continuous contacts, electrical wiring connecting said means and said plugs in a circuit; a movable brush support arranged to move adjacent the commutator; two sets of brushes carried by said. support,

each formed of three units connected together one unit oi each brush being in constant contact with one of the continuous con tacts ot the corresponding pair and the other two units being arranged to contact successively with the corresponding rows of sectional contacts; two pairs of brushes carried by said support, each formed of two units connected together, one unit of each brush, being in constant contact with the other continuous contact of each pair, and the other unit of each oi said last mentioned brushes contacting successively with the contact plugs of the corresponding row of said contact plugs; stationary electric signal lights; electrical wiring connecting said lights in a circuit with the rows of sectional contacts of each pair of rows, a pilot light located in the elevator car; electrical wiring connecting said pilot light in circuit with the other row of sectional contacts of each pair and electrically operated means for effacing said signals connected in circuit with said contact plugs.

In testimony whereof I have signed in) name to this specification in the presence o two subscribing witnesses.

ROBERT A. NEWE.

Witnesses R. M. SMITH, E. V. HARDWAY. 

